BOTOX® Los Angeles

Definition

Botulinum toxin type A is produced by a specific bacteria that causes the food poisoning botulism. Botox — the brand name for medicinal botulinum toxin type A — is the purified low-concentration form of the toxin. When injected in small doses into specific muscles, Botox blocks the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. When the muscles can’t tighten, the skin flattens and appears smoother and less wrinkled.

Why it’s done

Botox injections temporarily relax the facial muscles that underlie and cause wrinkles, making them appear less noticeable. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Botox for adults ages 18 to 65 as a temporary treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. However, Botox can be used to treat other facial wrinkles as well, such as the lines that fan out from the corners of the eyes (crow’s-feet) and the forehead furrow.

When Botox injections may be a good option
Botox treatment areas may include:

Frown lines between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose

Crow’s-feet at the corners of the eyes

Forehead creases

Skin bands on the neck

Dimpled chin

Bunny lines

When Botox injections may not be a good option

Not all facial wrinkles benefit from Botox injections, however. Botox won’t reverse wrinkling caused by sun damage. Also, it’s less desirable to treat the lines around your mouth because muscles in this area are needed for eating and talking. Your skin type, skin thickness and degree of wrinkling all play a role in determining whether these injections are effective for you.

Botox and other health conditions

Besides a wrinkle treatment, Botox is also used to treat several health conditions, including headaches, backaches, eye muscle problems, muscle spasms and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).

Risks

Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by a doctor. But side effects and complications can occur. These include:

You may need to stop using certain medications before your Botox procedure. These include blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, aspirin-containing medications, warfarin (Coumadin) or heparin. Talk to your doctor before stopping these medications, as it may be best to continue these medications in people who have had blood clots, stroke, heart attack, angina or transient ischemic attacks.

What you can expect

During the procedure

Dr. Barrett Performs Painless Botox

Dr. Barrett uses a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of Botox into specific muscles. By carefully choosing the muscles to treat, the doctor weakens only the wrinkle-producing muscles to try and preserve your natural facial expressions.

The number of injections needed depends on many factors, including your facial features, the extent of the wrinkling and the specific area being treated. For example, crow’s-feet usually require two to three injections. Furrows in your forehead could take five or more injections.

Botox injections take about 10 to 15 minutes. You may experience mild pain with the injections, but most people find the discomfort tolerable. The procedure requires no anesthesia.

After the procedure

Botox injections require no downtime. Expect to resume your normal daily activities immediately. Do no exercise for several hours after your injections. You may have headaches for a few hours after the treatment. Take care to move the muscles that were injected for at least 2 hours after the injections

Results

You’ll notice results within a few days, but the full effect takes about two weeks. Results aren’t permanent, however. Once the Botox has taken effect, it takes three to six months for the affected muscles to begin functioning again. So to maintain your look, you need follow-up injections every few months.

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